MOUNTAIN MEN

On July 24th, 2017, Preston passed away from complications due to an inoperable tumor on his liver that prevented oxygen and blood flow and, within the course of three weeks, quickly shut his body down.

We are looking to raise funds to help Preston's family with medical expenses, a public memorial service, and the roof of the family home that Preston was in the process of fixing. All money goes to his wife, Kathleen, and the Roberts family. Please contribute today. No donation is too small.

Preston from MOUNTAIN MEN

Yes, I am Preston from the History Channel TV show, MOUNTAIN MEN. I work with Eustace Conway on Turtle Island Preserve, deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. I’ve been happily married to the same woman since 1975 and we have 3 grown children. In 1982, I met Eustace and we became fast friends. Prior to that, I served four years in the US Air Force and then taught in the Wilkes County School System for 25 years. My knife-making skills were highlighted on the episode entitled “Concussion,” which was episode 10 of Season 5 of MOUNTAIN MEN.

Knife Making

The knife I made on the episode of MOUNTAIN MEN was made from a circular sawmill blade. It is a carbon-steel knife with a 9.5-10″ blade. On earlier episodes of of MOUNTAIN MEN, I carry a 4-5″ knife. Recently, I have been carrying a 4-5″ knife with a Damascus steel blade.

In the slideshow, below, you can view images from the episode where I make a carbon steel knife to help Eustace slaughter a hog. Use the arrows on the left and right of the photos to navigate through the slideshow. The process shown on the show and in the photos below depict a few day’s worth of work to finish a carbon steel knife.

July 17, 1957 - July 24, 2017

Due to complications from an inoperable tumor on his liver, Preston Roberts took his last breath at 3:30pm on Monday July 24, 2017 - in the arms of his beloved wife Kathleen, surrounded by family and loved ones. Preston was a woodsman, educator, artist, craftsman, and environmentalist.